How to replace the battery of Apple iPhone – Apple iPhone 3GS Removal and replacement – Mobiles and samartphones repair and service

Category: Mobiles and Smartphones Repair and Service

Contents of this article

How to remove the case

How to remove metal strip

How to remove the battery

Apple iPhone 3GS

Step by Step battery replacement procedure

Remove the two 3.7mm Phillips #00 screws from
the dock-connector end of the iPhone.

Remove the metal handle from the suction cup.
It's easier and safer to grip the suction cup's base instead of the metal
handle. Be very careful when opening the iPhone so that the cables under the
display are not severed. There is a rubber gasket between the silver front
bezel and black display assembly. A bit of force is required in this step to
separate the iPhone's display assembly. It may help to rock the suction cup
back and forth to remove the display assembly. Use a small suction cup near the
Home button to gently pull up the bottom portion of the iPhone's display
assembly. If the display assembly is too damaged to allow the suction cup to
adhere, tape with a strong adhesive such as duct tape or packing tape may be
used.

The display assembly is still connected to
the iPhone by several cables, so don't try to remove it entirely just yet.
Rotate the display assembly up until it is at an angle of approximately 45
degrees.

Continue to hold the display assembly with
one hand, and use your other hand and a spudger to disconnect the black ribbon
cable labeled "1". (Cable 1 is for the display)

Be careful to insert the spudger from the left, as shown in the picture (UNDER
THE RIBBON). If you try to pry up the ribbon from the right, you could damage
the ribbon connector and need to replace the display!
Al l connectors except the ribbon connector mentioned in step 7 release
upwards.

Rotate the display assembly up until it is
roughly vertical. This will allow easier access for disconnecting the remaining
cables. Use a spudger to disconnect the black ribbon cable labeled
"2". (Cable 2 is for the capacitative touch panel)

Please note: You may find on some non-American
(Chinese, European) versions of the 3G that the flip up plastic tab does not
exist. In this case you would slide the ribbon cable towards the screen until
it is removed. When you assemble it, you would apply pressure to the ribbon to
insert it back into the ribbon "socket." Some iPhones may have the
connector colors reversed (black plastic tab, white connector) for connector
"3". Make sure you're flipping up the tab properly, otherwise you may
damage the connector. Use a spudger to flip up the white plastic tab holding
the ribbon cable "3" in place. The white tab will rotate up 90
degrees, releasing the ribbon cable. Slide the black ribbon cable out of its
connector, and remove the display assembly from the iPhone.

Insert your SIM eject tool or a paper clip
into the hole next to the headphone jack. Press down on the tool until the SIM
card tray pops out. Grasp the SIM card tray and slide it out of the iPhone. Use
a spudger to disconnect the ribbon cable labeled "4."

Use a spudger to disconnect the ribbon cable
labeled "5."

Use a spudger to disconnect the ribbon cable
labeled "6." If you have an iPhone 3GS, refer to the second picture
and use a spudger to disconnect the ribbon cable labeled "7." Be
certain that the connectors on the ribbon cables are perfectly aligned with the
sockets on the mother board before applying pressure. This may require a
magnifying glass or jewelers' loupe.

Remove the following 8 screws: Five 2.3 mm
Phillips #00 screws with partial threads securing the logic board to the rear case.

Two 2.3 mm Phillips #00 screws with full threads securing the logic board and
camera.
One 2.9 mm Phillips #00 screw from beneath the "Do not remove"
sticker.
N ote for re-assembly: The screw that goes next to the camera (bottom right
orange highlighted screw) also has a metal strip that holds the camera in
place.
Remember to put this strip back in place before you insert the 2.3 mm Phillips
#00 screws with full thread next to the camera

Use a spudger to gently pry the camera up and
out of its housing in the rear case. The camera cannot be removed entirely yet
because it's connected to the bottom of the logic board. Use a spudger to
gently pry up the end of the logic board closest to the dock connector. There
is a small golden grounding tab on logic board adjacent to the 'do not remove
sticker'. Be VERY careful this does not snag on the side of the case when
prying up the logic board; it breaks easily. If you have signal problems after
removing the logic board, check this ground tab. If the board won't lift up,
double check to make sure all the screws securing the logic board have been
removed.

Slide the logic board towards the dock
connector and out of the iPhone. When replacing the logic board after
installing battery, connect the camera to the logic board before inserting it
into the case. Then make sure to set the top section of the logic board (where
the SIM tray is) in place before settling the rest of the board in place. This
is important, as sometimes the SIM card slot will not align into place. Once
the top section is in place, the bottom section can be maneuvered into place.
You will know the logic board is correctly installed when the SIM tray is
aligned with the opening in the iPhone case and the camera module seats neatly
into its place.

Use a spudger to pry the battery up from the
rear case. The battery is attached with an adhesive strip around the perimeter
of the battery. To prevent the battery from bending during the removal process,
we recommend against using just the plastic pull-tab . *Note: Removing the
battery is NOT necessary for replacing the GPS antenna. It merely gives you
more space for removing the headphone assembly (which is also unnecessary to
completely remove). The iPhone's battery is attached to the rear case with a
mild adhesive. This adhesive usually comes out attached to the battery. If your
replacement battery already includes an adhesive backing, you're all set. If
your replacement battery doesn't have an adhesive backing, you'll want to
transfer the adhesive from your old
battery to the newone.

You can use a hair dryer or heat gun on its lowest setting to heat the back of
the case. This will help loosen the adhesive bond before using the spudger to
separate the battery from the case back.